In the Shadow of the Cross : The True Account of My Childhood Sexual and Ritual Abuse at the Hands of a Roman Catholic Priest

by Charles L. Bailey Jr.

"In a matter of seconds, author Charles L. Bailey, Jr.'s, childhood innocence was destroyed. At the tender age of ten, Bailey became a victim of continuous sexual abuse by his family's Roman Catholic priest.

In the Shadow of the Cross: The True Account of My Childhood Sexual and Ritual Abuse at the Hands of a Roman Catholic Priest details Bailey's personal journey of recovery. With candid and shocking details, Bailey reveals how his ill-treatment forever destroyed his innocence and robbed him of identity and faith. Bailey also explains how family and friends were impacted by the tragedy, how his development from child to adult was full of pitfalls, and how he struggled with issues of intimacy.

But there is also hope in Bailey's story. Through his work with support groups, such as SNAP, (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests), individual counseling, and his renewed faith in God, Bailey has confronted his past and has become an advocate for those impacted by clergy sexual abuse. In the Shadow of the Cross shares his compelling true story and serves as a stark reminder of the haunting legacy of abuse in the church.

Charles is an award winning author, winning Honorable Mention in the recently annoounced 2011 London Book Festival"

Genres: Nonfiction, Psychology, Abuse

216 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 2006

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

More than any other book I ever read, this book made me realize the horror of child molestation. Parts of this book were almost impossible to read, it was so graphic, but I'm left with so much respect for the author who is using his horrible experiences to help others. Child molestation is horrific, but there's a whole new dimension of horror when the perpetrator is a member of the clergy who tells the child that what he's doing to them as gods will. very powerful.

[Keith Veeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a long time since a book moved me. This book threw me across the room.In the Shadow of the Cross Charles L. Bailey Jr.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I lived in NC when the scandal finally opened up about the Catholic Priests sexually assaulting/raping young boys. The media was finally honest about these crimes.

200 assaulted men were on The Oprah Show, supporting each other, when these crimes were made public. This has gone on for decades and “shoved under the rug”.
Charles was one of the men on TV.

I purchased two books. One I read and kept, the other I donated to the Fuquay-Barina public library.

I called Charles Bailey and invited him and his wife, Susan to my home. We had a very good, open conversation about his past and how he was currently healing and trying to move on. He was so interesting and Susan was so supportive of him.

Charles started a healing support group in Wake County, NC, for men who had been raped at the hands of these priests. He had over 100 men attending at that time.

This is a very well-written, factual snippet of Charles’ life as a young boy that was being groomed for Priesthood.

[Sharon Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am SO incredibly sorry.

[Todd Wilhelm · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tough read at times because of the way Charles Bailey graphically writes about his being raped by a Catholic priest, yet this book is a must read for all church-going people.